System and method for sharing SAN storage

Abstract

According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided that relate to shared access to Storage Area Networks (SAN) devices. In one embodiment, a Storage Area Network (SAN) host is provided, comprising: a server component; a first host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN client over a first SAN; a second host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN storage device over a second SAN; and wherein the server component is configured to manage a data block on the SAN storage device, receive a storage operation request from the SAN client through the first host bus adapter, and in response to the storage operation request, perform a storage operation on the data block, the storage operation being performed over the second SAN through the second host bus adapter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A Storage Area Network (SAN) host, comprising:
 a server component; 
 a first host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN client over a first SAN; 
 a second host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN storage device over a second SAN; and 
 wherein the server component is configured to manage a data block on the SAN storage device, provide the SAN client with block access to the data block on the SAN storage device, receive a storage operation request from the SAN client through the first host bus adapter, and in response to the storage operation request, perform a storage operation on the data block, the storage operation being performed over the second SAN through the second host bus adapter. 
 
     
     
       2. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to determine whether the storage operation request is performed as the storage operation. 
     
     
       3. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to arbitrate between a plurality of storage operation requests. 
     
     
       4. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter connects to the SAN client through the first host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
       5. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the second host bus adapter connects to the SAN storage device through the second host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
       6. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to perform dynamic provisioning of storage space on the SAN storage device for the SAN client. 
     
     
       7. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to provide a plurality of SAN clients with concurrent access to the SAN storage. 
     
     
       8. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter is in target mode. 
     
     
       9. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the second host bus adapter is in initiator mode. 
     
     
       10. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to perform data de-duplication on the SAN storage device while performing the storage operation. 
     
     
       11. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the storage operation is a file read, a file write, a file create, or a file delete operation. 
     
     
       12. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the storage operation is a discovery request to the system. 
     
     
       13. The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the SAN storage device comprises a plurality of SAN storage devices managed by the server component as a pool of storage resources. 
     
     
       14. The SAN host of  claim 13 , wherein the server component is further configured to add a new SAN storage device to the pool when the new SAN storage device is added to the second SAN. 
     
     
       15. A method for a Storage Area Network (SAN) host, comprising:
 receiving from a SAN client a request to perform a first storage operation on a SAN storage device, wherein the request is received over a first SAN through a first host bus adapter; and 
 in response to the request, performing a second storage operation on the SAN storage device, wherein the second storage operation is performed over a second SAN through a second host bus adapter; 
 wherein first host bus adapter and the second host bus adapter are each electronically coupled to a server component, the server component being configured to manage a data block on the SAN storage device and provide the SAN client with block access to the data block on the SAN storage device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprises arbitrating whether the request is performed as the second storage operation. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprises arbitrating between a plurality of storage operation requests. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein when a plurality of storage operation requests are received, the method further comprises:
 detecting a new SAN storage device on the second SAN; and 
 adding the new SAN storage to a pool of storage resources. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a discovery request from the SAN client; and 
 transmitting a discovery response to the SAN client, wherein the discovery response represents the SAN host as a traditional SAN storage device.